After lengthy negotiations, North American PVC resin prices have settled down 2 cents for April.
Lower demand from the construction market, which accounts for more than half of PVC sales in the region, played a role in the decrease, market sources told Plastics News. Through April, U.S. housing starts are down 3.2 percent vs. the same period in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Regional PVC prices for May are expected to be flat, sources said, with a 2-cent increase being pushed for June. Prices had been flat in March after moving up an average of 2 cents per pound in February.
The February hike ended a streak of nine consecutive months of flat pricing for North American PVC. Prior to February, market prices for PVC had not moved since April 2018, with supply and demand being closely balanced. Regional PVC prices were up a net of 3 cents in 2018.